A north-east MP will tomorrow launch legislation aimed at preventing violence against women.
The SNP’s Eilidh Whiteford is bringing forward a private member’s bill that would provide the UK Government with a vehicle for ratifying the Istanbul Convention.
This is the Council of Europe agreement on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence.
Ms Whiteford, who represents Banff and Buchan, said her bill – if successful – would improve the lives of women and girls in the UK and abroad.
She added: “The Istanbul Convention sets out a strategic framework to prevent violence against women, protect women from violence, and prosecute the perpetrators.
“We know that domestic abuse and violence against women transcends borders; it is a global human rights abuse.
“We’ve been waiting over four and a half years for the UK Government to ratify the convention.
“It is no longer a valid excuse to say there is not enough parliamentary time to take forward the necessary changes to domestic legislation.”
She said her bill would enable the government to set out a clear timetable for ratifying the convention as a national priority.
“If the UK Government is as committed to ratifying the convention as they say, they should be able to support this bill,” she added.
It has the backing of MPs from all sides of the House, including Liberal Democrat Alistair Carmichael and Conservative former culture secretary Maria Miller among others.
Private members’ bills can be introduced by MPs and peers who are not government ministers.
Only a minority become law as less parliamentary time is allocated to them which means they are not as likely to proceed through all the stages.
But even those that don’t can influence other legislation indirectly by shining a spotlight on an issue.
Ms Whiteford’s bill was selected randomly from a ballot earlier in the year.
She said: “Taking one forward is no easy task; it is as a result of a random draw but can provide an opportunity to bring forward legislation that makes a positive difference.”
A Government spokeswoman said: “We remain committed to ratifying the Istanbul Convention as part of our strong commitment to tackling violence against women and girls. In most respects measures already in place to protect women and girls from violence comply with, or go further, than the Convention requires.”
